'Wanda'. Maintenance staff were unable to reach Mount Gough to effect the necessary repairs until the storm abated and the access roads had been cleared of fallen tress and debris. Otherwise, the F.M. installations fortunately escaped damage during this severe typhoon.
STUDIOS AND EQUIPMENT
76. The most significant new installation of the year was the intro- duction of the V.H.F. programme link equipment between Mercury House and the F.M. transmitters at Mount Gough. Both programme services are now fed direct to the transmitters and thus avoid the vagaries of the land line system. This has resulted in a considerable improvement in quality, and the previous breakdowns due to line faults. have been eliminated.
RELAY RECEPTION
77. During the year under review a total of 2,440 English and 1,072 Chinese programmes were received at Mount Butler Receiving Station for direct relay or recording for subsequent transmission. This represents an increase of 20% in English Service usage compared with the previous year. The increase was principally due to the resumption of Radio Australia News relays and also to an increase in recording of B.B.C. relays of a topical nature for re-broadcast.
78. The standard of reception of B.B.C. services, both direct from Britain and via the Far Eastern Relay Station (Singapore), has been generally acceptable. During the winter months receiving conditions of the direct route deteriorated and the Singapore relay was extensively used.
OUTSIDE BROADCASTS
79. An increase in the number of Outside Broadcasts carried out was again registered this year and the monthly average over the past three years was:
Year
Average Number of O.B.'s per Month.
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
16
31
35
42